Vaporization apparatus



Dec. 4, 1'95] J. c. LINCOLN 2,5 ,023

VAPORIZATION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24. 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR.Johw c. L INCOL. N BY GTTOiZ/VEVS.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPORIZATION APPARATUS.John C. LincohnPhoenix, Ariz., assignor to Precipitation Control Compcorporation of Arizona Application August 24, 1949, Serial -No. 1I2,130

- Claims.

The present invention relates as indicated to an apparatus forvaporizing materials to be used as condensation nuclei in seedingclouds.

It has been foundthat it is possible-to cause and control precipitationover desired areas by the artificial seeding of clouds and in thismanner, disturbing the semi-stable state of equilibrium existing insuper-cooled cloud formations. Various methods have been used to attainthis result, the most popular being the dispersing of Dry Ice particlesinto the cloud formations. Another method is dispelsing finely dividedwater particles into the top of the clouds. Certain chemical substances,such as silver iodide, have been found to yield good results when usedas condensation nuclei after being prepared for such use.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide anapparatus for the seeding of clouds that is generally more satisfactorythan any heretofore previously employed.

Another object is to provide apparatus that is relatively simple ofconstruction and operation, economical of operation, and readilyportable.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus that may be easilycarried by a small airplane.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexeddrawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the variousways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

Broadly stated, this invention comprises in an automatic electricvaporizing system, a pair of carbon rod electrodes adapted to moverelative to each other, means for automatically striking an are betweensaid electrodes, means formoving said electrodes toward each other atthe same speed at which they are consumed including a variable speedmotor connected across said electrodes, a source of electric current tocause an arc between said electrodes and feeding means adapted to supplya constant stream of silver iodide particles to said are to bevaporized.

More specifically stated, this invention comprises in an automaticelectric vaporizing system, a pair of carbon rod electrodes adapted tomove relative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across saidelectrodes adapted to move one electrode into touching contact with saidother electrode and then moving said electrodes any, Phoenix, .Ariz., a

apart thereby striking an are, a small motor connected across said areand operatively included in a rack and pinion set-up adapted to movesaid electrodes toward each other at the same speed at which they areconsumed thereby keeping the space gap between said electrodes constant,a source of electric current applied across said electrodes to cause anarc therebetween, and a silver iodide feed. mechanism including avariable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted tosupply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said arc.

In the further explanationof my invention, it becomes convenient toillustrate apparatus by which the invention may be carried out, oneform-of such apparatus being illustratedinthe drawings, in which- Fig. 1represents a top plan view of one-preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 represents a front elevation view of the preferred form of myinvention as shown .in Fig.1;

Fig. .3 represents a side elevation'view;

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged cut-away view of the silver iodide feedingmechanism;

Fig. Srepresents a cross sectional view of the solenoid mechanismcontrolling the carbon rods; and

:Figneis an exploded view ofthe sprocket chain driving feed rollmechanism.

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings, Figs. 1,2,. and 3 showtwo racks I- carrying carbon rods 2. Racks I are operated by pinion 3and are driven by motor 4. Reduction gearing is generally indicated at5. Motord is connected across the carbon arc and the speed of the motoris. such that the-pinion 3 draws the carbon rods 2 together at the samerate that the carbons are consumed by the operation of the arc. A highvoltage coil 6 .is also connected across the arc and details of suchhigh voltage coil are shown in Fig. 5. The high voltage coil 6 isattached to therighthand rack l and the righthand carbon rod 2is-connected by clamp 8. When the voltagev is high, the armature 9 isdrawn into the solenoidagainst a spring l8 and causes the righthandcarbon to approach the lefthand carbon approximately of an inch. Theoperation of the carbon rod operating motor 4 will in a few secondsbring the carbon rods 2 together and then the voltage across the coil lldrops to zero and the spring I!) pushes armature 9 out against amechanical stop automatically striking an arc. The voltage across theare is approximately 25 volts and the current through the solenoid coilI I is small enough at this particular voltage so that it will not drawarmature 9 into the solenoid against the pressure of spring 10. Thevoltage is consequently low enough so that there is no appreciableheating of the coil l l. The alternating current supply for the arc isconnected to the clamps 8 and I2, by flexible connections indicated atl3.

The power supplied is from a 24-volt, 100-ampere generator (not shown)driven by the aircraft engine. In order to have an arc that isstationary, it has to be fed with an alternating current.

Consequently, to supply the arc with alternating current, direct currentfrom the generator is passed through an inverter which is a 4-polemachine revolving at about 4,000 revolutions a minute thereby givingabout 133 cycles per second on the alternating current which is therebyproduced. This alternating current then passes through the primary of atransformer. The primary and secondary of the transformer are separatedpreferably by a considerable air gap. Therefore, there is a large amountof magnetic leakage by the primary and secondary windings. Thistransformer is designed so that at open circuit, the secondary has avoltage of about 85 or 90 volts. At short circuit, the current ismaximum and the voltage is zero and the transformer is so designed thatthe energy in the primary when the secondary is short circuited is lessthan it is when the arc is operating at the normal voltage.

A direct current motor M for the silver iodide feeder mechanism issupplied from a storage battery (not shown) and the speed of this motorcan be controlled by a switch particularly adaptable for this purpose(also not shown). The reducing mechanism on the motor l4 drives a worml5. Worm l5 drives a worm wheel l6 and the gearing H which in turndrives the recessed wheel [8 shown in Fig. 6 at the bottom of the silveriodide holder generally indicated at l9 in Fig. 4. This recessed wheelI8 is driven preferably at a very low speed. The righthand end of theshaft 20 is provided with gearing 2i and 22 which drives the paddles 23in the bottom of silver iodide holder IS. The operation of paddles 23keeps the recess in the recessed feed roll i8 packed with silver iodide.

Silver iodide feed roll 18 carries the silver, iodide material from theholder l9 down the feed roll scraper 24 which is revolved at a very highspeed. Consequently, a constant feed of silver iodide drops throughsilver iodide feed tube 25 into the are.

A sprocket 29 on the righthand end of driveshaft 20, shown in Fig. 2,drives a chain connecting sprocket 29 to sprocket 30 which in turndrives the silver iodide feed roll scraper 24, as shown in Fig. 6. Thesilver iodide feeding mechanism generally indicated at 19 is designed tofeed a constant stream of silver iodide to the arc and this feed can beregulated by the switch which controls the voltage of the motor l4.

Below the arc are tungsten heat reflectors 26 which catch and vaporizany silver iodide which is not vaporized by dropping through the arc.The silver iodide vapor exhaust 21 allows air to come in from each sidearound carbon rods 2 and is connected to exhaust tubes on the side ofthe ship which carry the silver iodide vapor from the vaporizing chamber28 to exhaust tubes (not shown) on the outside of the ship which in turndistribute the silver iodide particles to the air.

The vacuum which creates the flow of air around each carbon rod in thevaporizing chamber is provided by having the tubes on the outsome sideof the ship bevelled. This bevelling is arranged in such a way that asthe ship travels through air at high speed, a slight vacuum is formed inthe tube which circulates the air through the vaporizing chamber andcarries the vaporized silver iodide from the vaporizing arc to the airaround the ship.

It should be apparent that the practical embodiment of my inventionlends itself particularly to use in aircraft. The apparatus describedcan bemade simply and compactly, and is eflicient in its operation. Onlysmall amounts of material need be carried, and the entire apparatusalong with its supply of material may be transported in a smallaircraft. This is particularly desirable for economy of operation.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic electric vaporizing system, a pair of electrodesmounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to move relative to eachother, a high voltage coil connected across said electrodes operative tomove said electrodes together;

a motor connected across said are operative to move said electrodestoward each other at the same speed at which they are consumed, a sourceof electric current applied across said electrodes to cause an arc inthe presence of air therebetween, and a silver iodide feed mechanismincluding a variable speed motor and operatively associated paddlesadapted to supply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to saidarc.

2. In an automatic electric vaporizing system, a .pair of carbon rodelectrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to moverelative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across saidelectrodes operative to move said electrodes together, a small motorconnected across said are adapted to move said electrodes toward eachother at the same speed at which they are consumed, a source of electriccurrent applied across said electrodes to cause an arc in the presenceof air therebetween, and a silver iodide 'feed mechanism including avariable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted tosupply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said arc.

3. In an automatic electric vaporizing system, a pair of carbon rodelectrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to moverelative to each other, a high voltage coil connected across saidelectrodes adapted to move one electrode into touching contact with saidother electrode and a spring adapted to move said electrodes apartthereby striking an arc, a small motor connected across said are adaptedto move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed at whichthey are consumed thereby keeping the space gap between said electrodesconstant, a source of electric current applied across said electrodes tocause an arc in the presence of air therebetween, and a silver iodidefeed mechanism including a variable speed motor and operativelyassociated paddles adapted to supply .a constant stream of silver iodideparticles to adapted to move relative to each other, an electromagneticmeans connected across said electrodes operative to move one electrodeinto touching contact with said other electrode, and a spring adapted tomove said electrodes apart, thereby striking an arc, a small motorconnected across said are operative to move said electrodes toward eachother at the same speed at which they are consumed thereby keeping thespace gap between said electrodes constant, a source of electric currentapplied across said electrodes to cause an arc therebetween, and asilver iodide feed mechanism including a variable speed motor andoperatively associated paddles adapted to supply a constant stream ofsilver iodide particles to said arc.

5. A device for the vaporization in the presence of air in an airplaneof substances such as silver iodide, in combination a pair of carbon rodelectrodes mounted on a rack and pinion set up and adapted to moverelative to each other, an electromagnetic means connected across saidelectrodes operative to move one electrode into touching contact withsaid other electrode, and a spring adapted to move said electrodesapart, thereby striking an arc, a small motor connected across said arcoperative to move said electrodes toward each other at the same speed atwhich they are consumed thereby keeping the space gap between saidelectrodes constant, a source of electric current applied across saidelectrodes to cause an arc therebetween supplied by a generator drivenby an aircraft engine and a silver iodide feed mechanism including avariable speed motor and operatively associated paddles adapted tosupply a constant stream of silver iodide particles to said are.

JOHN C. LINCOLN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,542 Seaverns Feb. 11, 18961,159,383 Holsten Nov. 9, 1915 1,239,759 Baker Sept. 11, 1917 1,249,151McKee Dec. 4, 1917 1,268,548 Deardorfi June 4, 1918 1,289,294 StandefordDec. 31, 1918 2,160,490 Strong May 30, 1939 2,461,798 Anderson Feb. 15,1949

